Etymoleon - Word History, the etymology podcast.

Leon Bailey-Green
  • 5.0 (6)
  • HISTORY
Etymoleon - Word History, the etymology podcast.

Word History is a weekly 15 minute etymology podcast by Etymoleon, dedicated to uncovering the history behind words and names. Each episode unveils the journey of words and their connections to various languages such as Old English, Ancient Greek, Latin, Old French, Proto-Germanic and many more. Episodes also highlight historical events related to the topic and terms explored. New episodes every Sunday. If you like etymology try Derivety, a daily word game by Etymoleon. Can you guess the word from the meaning of its origin? Play now at https://derivety.com. Get in touch with Etymoleon at https://etymoleon.com.

  1. DEC 15

    68. Christmas Gifts

    This time, we're unwrapping etymology through the history of Christmas gifting. The word gift in both English and German comes from the same root, though in German it evolved to mean poison. Must-have toys often cause a frenzy, like Teletubbies and Tickle Me Elmo, with the word frenzy tracing back to an ancient Greek word that also gave us frenetic and schizophrenia. Chocolate advent calendars only became popular in the 1990s; the term advent derives from a Latin term meaning to come. Listen ...

    15 min

  2. DEC 8

    67. Television

    In this episode, we tune in to the origins of television terms. TV broadcasts date back to the late 1920s, but the first remote control, a wired device called the "lazy bones", arrived in the 1950s. The phrase "jump the shark" originated from an episode of Happy Days in the 1970s, though it only gained popularity two decades later. The word binge started as Midlands (England) slang meaning to soak in water, evolving to mean over-drinking, and eventually extended to doing anything to excess, h...

    15 min

  3. DEC 1

    66. British Empire

    This time, we're going around the world of words tied to the British Empire, from terms of governance like dominion, protectorate and territory to words describing those settling new lands, such as coloniser, imperialist and conquistador. Discover how Australia, Jamaica, Pakistan, Trinidad and America got their names, and learn about the English father-son duo behind the place names of Dalhousie across empire territories. Also explored is the link between the words pioneer and pawn, both trac...

    16 min

  4. NOV 24

    65. Names: Style Icons

    This episode uncovers the etymologies behind the names of style icons from screen, stage, catwalk and beyond. Looking into Karl Lagerfeld's last name reveals the reason we call beer lager, while a cabaret song inspired Coco Chanel's iconic moniker. Lenny Kravitz's surname traces back to Slavic roots, and Rihanna's name has roots in either Welsh or Arabic. Grace Kelly's name was popularised by the Puritans, and Naomi Campbell's means pleasant. Listen for the name meanings of Audrey, Bowie, Twi...

    15 min

  5. NOV 17

    64. Pregnancy II

    This episode delivers the origins of words related to pregnancy. IVF is a common term today, but early media reports often used the phrase test tube baby, which predates the 1970s when in-vitro fertilisation first emerged. Discover how the term folic, for the B vitamin, connects to the word for leaves, and why preeclampsia traces back to an ancient Greek word meaning light. We also explore pregnancy signs, including the components of the hormone detected by pregnancy tests, and how ancient Eg...

    16 min

  6. NOV 10

    63. Cleaning

    In this episode, we scrub up the origins of cleaning-related words. The English towns of West Bromwich and Castle Bromwich share an etymology with a term for sweeping floors, while laundry has roots connected to lavatory. The phrase spick-and-span is believed to have nautical origins, just like the word squeegee. Learn who invented the vacuum cleaner, which was originally referred to a suction sweeper, and who bought the rights to it.

    17 min

  7. NOV 3

    62. Justice

    This time, we're weighing the evidence behind the origins of words related to justice. The word dock is thought to trace back to a term for a chicken coop, while the Latin root of innocent links to the word noxious. Discover why we use the term panel for both jurors and conference speakers, and how adjourned is connected diary entries. We also examine the etymological roots of professional terms like attorney, lawyer and barrister.

    16 min

  8. OCT 27

    61. Contradicting Meanings II

    This episode is all about words that are their own opposites. Clip can mean both to trim and to attach, while refrain can mean to hold back or to repeat something endlessly. We also explore words that have flipped meanings over time; egregious once meant remarkably good, but now means shockingly bad, and villain has undergone a similar transformation. Plus, we explore the paradoxical phrase "I'm lying right now".

    14 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Word History is a weekly 15 minute etymology podcast by Etymoleon, dedicated to uncovering the history behind words and names. Each episode unveils the journey of words and their connections to various languages such as Old English, Ancient Greek, Latin, Old French, Proto-Germanic and many more. Episodes also highlight historical events related to the topic and terms explored. New episodes every Sunday. If you like etymology try Derivety, a daily word game by Etymoleon. Can you guess the word from the meaning of its origin? Play now at https://derivety.com. Get in touch with Etymoleon at https://etymoleon.com.

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